Brush construction



Nov. 8, 1960 R. o. PETERSON 2,958,888

BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14, 1954 INVENTOR. PUBM/ 0. PUZPSON mpm I BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Ruben Peterson, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Osborn Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio c FiledJune 14, 1954, Ser. No. 436,500 S'Claims. c1. 15-171 This invention relates as indicated to a novel brush construction, and more particularly to a form of brush especially adapted for use as a floor brush or sweep.

The typical floor brush comprises a block of wood into which tufts of bristles have been inserted as by stapling and to which a long handle may be secured. Such brushes have been clumsy to use, not only being relatively heavy but also being so shaped that they cannot be inserted into narrow spaces. Light brushes of the twisted wire stem type, for example, commonly employed as dusters for cleaning Venetian blinds and the like do not have a suflicient density of brush material to afford the snap action required of a'sweep. The conventional broom is merely a bundle of broom-straw or the like which may, however, be relatively dense and therefore afford such desired snap action.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a brushing tool such as a floor sweep and the like which will afford the'requisite snap action in use.

7 Another object is to provide a brush having an elongated brush head, the construction of which ensures adequate density of brush material adjacent the respective ends thereof. 7 c I Still another object is to provide an elongated brush head having brush material flaring outwardly at its respective ends without loss of brush bristle density. I

- 'A further object is to provide such brushing tool in which 'the main body of brush material is laterally spread to afford an improved brushing action. I

Other 'objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 1 1

To-the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and theaannexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

'Fig. 1 is a side view of my new brush showing the manner in which the brush bristle material flares at the ends thereof; r r L Fig. 2 is an.enlarged fragmentary view of one end portion of such brush with the brush bristle material removed; 1 1 Fig. 3 isa longitudinal section through an end of such brush showing both the end tuft retaining means and the spreader 'meansfor spreading the 'main body of brush material laterally;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the end clip and spreaderassembly;...... '1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a floor brush similar to Fig. 1 but further modified by upward inclination of the respective ends thereof.

Fatented Nov. 8, 19,50

Referring nowmore particularly to said drawing, the j embodiment of my invention there illustrated comprises a sheet metal outer channelback 1 to which an e1ongated handle 2 may be attached, with or without a ball and socket connection as may be desired. Rubber bumper caps 3 and 4 may be mounted on the extreme ends of back 1.

In my new brush construction, I may preferably uti-i lize two straight lengths of brush strip formed in ac ed to be. mounted in side-by-side relationship. within'outerf channel back 1 with their ends resting on upturned flanges 9 of end tuf-t retaining clips 10. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, such clips are of sheet metal adapted to fit within the ends of channel back 1 and to be secured in place by means of rivets 11. A second upwardly extending flange portion 12 carries a downturned prong or book member '13 adapted to fit snugly againstthe extreme inner end of channel back 1 as shown in Fig. 3.

Embraced by such prong 13 is an additional relatively large tuft of brush bristle material 14 which serves to fill out the end of the flaring outer back member 1 and thereby produce a flaring brush end of considerable density as shown in Fig. 1. -It will be-appreciated that if the lengths of brush strip were simply permitted to extend to the respective ends of such outer back, therev would be no such-endwise flare 'or end slan obtained. Indeed, it is necessary to pinch together the walls of the brush strip back 5 to prevent the escape of bristle material so that there is substantially no end slant obtainable. The ends of the lengths of brush strip are spaced apart by the inner vertical rib or flange 15 on the large upstanding transverse flange portion 12 as best shown in Fig. 6, and the lengths of brush strip are furthermore locked against outward movement by indented dimples such as 16 and 17 in outer back 1.

It will be noted as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 that a con siderable cavity may be left between outer back 1 and the back portions of the lengths of brush strip 5, and such cavity may be made use of to receive cleaning fluids, for example. Thus, handle 2 maybe of tubular construction and be joined to back 1 by a tubular rivet member 18 permitting entry of such fluids to the brush back through the v handle. Alternatively, suction may be applied through such handle. 1

As shown in Fig. 7, the extreme end portions of outer back 1 may be turned up or curved to accentuate the end slant or flare, this being feasible-with my new construction without unduly reducing the density of the brush material in this region in view of the large quantity of such material which may be secured beneath prong 13 as shown in Fig. 3. p j

While the two lengths of brush strip may simply extend in 'close side-by-side relationship to form a single uninterrupted brush face, I frequently prefer to divide and spread apart the brush material of such two lengths of brush strip in order to provide two. separate-brush faces with an open space therebetween (see Fig. 6). For this purpose, I may utilize a spacer or spreader member of somewhat flaring U-shaped cross-section having a bottom portion 19 and two side portions 20 and 21. Up standing tabs 22 are provided on transverse flanges 12 of clips which are adapted to be bent down to enter the ends of the spreader member and engage the bottom portion 19 thereof to secure such spreader in place with the two flaring side portions 20 and 21 serving to spread apart the brush material of the two lengths of brush strip as best shown in Fig. 6. Such spreader may be quite readily inserted and removed when it is desired to transform the brush from one type to the other.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the prong member 13 and the rib may desirably be formed of a single piece of sheet metal with the tab end portion 23 passing through a corresponding aperture in flange 12 and then bent to lock the assembly together.

It will accordingly be seen that the objects of the invention have been achieved in a relatively simple manner permitting the assembling of the several components very quickly and easily and providing a brush having a strong brushing action even at the extreme flaring ends of the same. The spreader 19, 20, 21 somewhat compacts the brush material where the latter leaves the outer brush back 1 and thereby further enhances the snap action of the two seperated parallel layers of brush material 6. An important advantage of my invention is that it affords a construction wherein brush strip which is relatively inexpensive and is commercially produced in large quantities may be utilized and still afford the des irable attributes of a push broom or sweep.

While particularly suited for use as a long handled sweep or push broom, my new brush may be employed with any desired type of handle and may be used as a counter duster, for example. The spreader not only affords the usually preferred side slant but also assists in regulating fluid flow when the brush is used as a fountain brush. As above explained, such spreader is readily removable and the lengths of brush strip may also be removed and replaced.

The brush bristle material employed is a matter of choice but will ordinarily be selected to afford the desired snap action. Tampico fiber and horsehair may be used and I have found plastic coated glass fiber strands especially satisfactory. Also, mixtures of plastic bristles and plastic coated wire are excellent for many purposes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 155,803 filed April 14, 1950, now Patent No. 2,748,412, and reference may also be had to my Patents 2,680,868 and 2,680,869 for vari-- ous other features useful in this general type of brush.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a brush having a sheet metal channel shaped outer back with closed outwardly flaring ends and an elongated handle centrally secured thereto; sheet metal clips secured in said back adjacent each end thereof having large transverse flanges spaced from said ends and smaller upturned transverse flanges spaced therefrom toward the center of said back, two parallel lengths of brush strip having elongated self-supporting back portions fitted within said outer back engaging said smaller flanges and secured beneath dimples protruding inwardly from the channel sides of said outer back, the ends of such strip abutting said large transverse flanges, layers of brush material held in said respective brush strip backs and extending in side-by-side relationship from said outer back, prong men'tbers'seeured to said large transverse flanges and extending to the respectiveflaring ends of 4- said outer back, said prong members being curved toward the inner bottom'of said outer back channel, and large dense tufts of brush bristle material doubled about said prongs and secured thereby in said outer back, said tufts extending therefrom in outwardly flaring directions in conformity to said flaring ends of said back.

2. The brush of claim 1, including an elongated channel shaped spreader member having outwardly flaring side portions inserted between said layers of brush material and gripped by tabs on said clips to hold the same in place, thereby spacing and laterally compacting said layers to aflord increased snap action.

3. In a brush having a sheet metal channel shaped outer back with closed outwardly flaring'ends and an elongated handle centrally secured thereto; transverse flanges within said back spaced from the respective ends thereof, two parallel lengths of brush strip having elongated selfsupporting back portions fitted within said outer back beneath dimples protruding inwardly from the channel sides of said outer back, the ends of such strip abutting said transverse flanges, layers of brush material held in said respective brush strip backs and extending in sideby-side relationship from said outer back, prong members secured to said transverse flanges and extending to the respective flaring ends of said outer back, and large dense tufts of brush bristle material doubled about said prongs and secured thereby in said outer back, said tufts extending therefrom in outwardly flaring directions in conformity to said flaring ends of said back."

4. The brush of claim 3, including an elongated spreader member inserted between said layers of brush material and secured to said transverse flanges to hold the same in place, thereby spacing and laterally compacting said layers to afford increased snap action.

5. A' brushing tool comprising an elongated straight narrow outer channel brush back having two lengths of brush strip secured therein in side-by-side relationship with generally flat layers of brush material extending in side-by-side relationship therefrom, said lengths of brush strip having elongated back members recessed substantially within said channel brush back so that the side edges of the latter project beyond said brush strip back members and laterally engage the respective adjacent layers of brush material, and an elongated spreader element secured between said layers adjacent the region where the latter thus emerge from said outer channel back to spread such brush material to provide side slant to the brush and to define with the respective sides of said outer channel back elongated openings closely embracing said respective layers of brush material, said spreader element having a maximum width greater than the space between said layers of brush material within said outer back.

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